Beginning with a discussion of how collections diversity has been conceptualized and assessed within the literature, we then analyze four areas in which professional practices and modes of thinking create barriers to collecting materials from historically marginalized voices. Specifically, we discuss how metadata practices can obscure these…

In light of numerous discussions about whether to follow Mark Greene and Dennis Meissner's suggestions to process lightly and broadly, valid reasons remain for continuing traditional practices for many literary correspondence collections. In this case study, the authors use the Kenneth Burke Papers in the Special Collections Library, Pennsylvania…

It seems, at times, that a frantic race persists to ensure that a child, in the crucial learning stages of early elementary education, acquires the appropriate reading level before he or she "gets behind." Though there are obvious issues with branding a book "Grade Level One" or "Reading Level 2.2," it is nevertheless…

Local records are the foundation on which social history is constructed. However, in an era when most historians categorize themselves as social historians, it is amazing to note how much these primary resources appear to be underutilized in scholarly works. This article attempts to understand why this is so by investigating how it is that…

This paper describes online newsmedia databases which have been intentionally designed to respond to needs for information that is more current than the information in printed indexes or online versions of these indexes. It is suggested that these databases are useful to libraries because, in addition to subject indexing, they have "word…

Prestel is an interactive videotex system which has been available to the public in the United Kingdom since the late 1970's. Recent research funded by the British Library Research and Development Department provided public libraries with access to Prestel and monitored their reactions to the services. Aims of the trial were to promote Prestel by…

The Design of Information Systems in the Social Sciences project (DISISS) of the University of Bath, England, has recently completed evaluations of three programs: (1) a library staff digest intended to inform personnel of the inner workings of the library; (2) an information system designed to assist professionals and private individuals working…

Describes the method and circumstances which allow for free online searches at the California State College-Stanislaus Library. Discussion includes reviewing search requests, feeless flexibility, and cost effectiveness. (JVP)

Outlines the issues and concerns of providing spatial data that have been encountered by the Map and Geographic Information Center (MAGIC) at the University of Connecticut's library. Highlights include collecting and archiving, cataloging and indexing, networking, distribution, user education, geographic information systems, and a glossary of key…

This paper discusses the collection of digital publications at Die Deutsche Bibliothek as part of its mandate as the central archival library and national bibliographic center of the Federal Republic of Germany to collect, archive, index, and provide public access to all German and German-language publications. The first section describes the…

Authority control is a vital part of providing students and faculty with adequate access to collections in university libraries. Small and medium-sized libraries find it challenging to meet rising user expectations and provide adequate access in an online environment through appropriate authority work. A planning process is offered on an authority…

With minimal staff and a small expenditure on software, Lane Memorial Library in Hampton, New Hampshire, created a publicly accessible index to its local newspapers on its Web site. Reference staff members perform the indexing during slow times at the desk using Filemaker Pro software and the indexing guidelines and thesaurus developed in-house.…

Describes the InfoTrac SearchBank based on experiences at the University of Nevada, Reno, libraries where the service is available through the online catalog. Highlights include remote access through the Internet; indexing and abstracting; full-text access to 460 journal titles; a powerful search engine; and business-oriented databases.…

Presents abstracts of SIG Sessions. Highlights include digital collections; information retrieval methods; public interest/fair use; classification and indexing; electronic publication; funding; globalization; information technology projects; interface design; networking in developing countries; metadata; multilingual databases; networked…

The U.S. Bureau of the Census has published on CD-ROM data for the smallest geographic reporting levels, and depository librarians must decide what level of support they will provide for patrons who want to access the material. Discussion includes preservation and storage of census maps for easy access, and indexing the information contained on…